MedImmune’s FluMist proves superior to injectable vaccine in trial

MedImmune said yesterday that a new version of its FluMist nasal-spray influenza vaccine had proved superior for young children to the standard flu shot in a large global test. The findings could potentially give a much-needed boost to sales of what has become a flagging product for MedImmune.In a test of 8,492 children in 26 countries, only 3.9% of children receiving FluMist got the flu, versus 8.6% of those who received standard flu shots, a 55% drop, MedImmune said.The study is the third and largest study of FluMist. The new product still awaits approval from the FDA, which has refrained from allowing its use in children."The injectable vaccine has been in use for more than 40 years," MedImmune CEO David Mott told The Washington Post, in an interview. "We have just demonstrated that we have the potential to demonstrate 55% better efficacy at preventing influenza. That's a pretty important finding."